### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **alḗthō**, represented by `{{G229}}`, means **to grind**. It appears only **2 times** across **2 unique verses**, where it describes a common domestic task used to illustrate a moment of profound, sudden separation.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{G229}}` is found in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke within a parallel prophetic context. Both passages describe two women engaged in the everyday activity of **grinding** at a mill [[Matthew 24:41]] or **grinding** together [[Luke 17:35]]. This ordinary scene is used to demonstrate the unexpected nature of the time when one person will be taken and the other left behind, highlighting a moment of divine separation amidst the routines of daily life.
### Related Words & Concepts
The context of **alḗthō** is clarified by several related words that appear alongside it:
* `{{G3459}}` **mýlōn** (a mill-house): This specifies the location of the action, grounding the scene in a common, domestic setting [[Matthew 24:41]].
* `{{G1417}}` **dýo** ("two"): This numeral appears in both accounts, establishing the pair of individuals who will face different outcomes, emphasizing the theme of separation ([[Matthew 24:41]], [[Luke 17:35]]).
* `{{G3880}}` **paralambánō** (to receive near... take): This verb describes the fate of the first individual, who "shall be taken" ([[Matthew 24:41]], [[Luke 17:35]]).
* `{{G863}}` **aphíēmi** (to send forth... leave): This verb describes the fate of the second individual, who will be "left" behind ([[Matthew 24:41]], [[Luke 17:35]]).
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G229}}` is derived entirely from the scene it helps create. It underscores key eschatological principles:
* **Imminent Separation:** The act of **grinding** portrays a mundane, routine task. Setting the separation within this context emphasizes that this future event will occur unexpectedly during the course of normal life [[Matthew 24:41]].
* **Divine Selection:** The image of two women working side-by-side, yet destined for different outcomes, illustrates the principle of divine discernment. It shows that close physical proximity does not guarantee the same fate [[Luke 17:35]].
* **The Ordinary as a Backdrop:** The use of a simple, domestic chore like **grinding** shows that profound, divinely-ordained events unfold within the fabric of ordinary human existence.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G229}}` is a specific verb for a simple action: to **grind**. While its usage is rare, it plays a crucial role in one of the New Testament's most vivid illustrations of the end times. The word itself is not theological, but its context in [[Matthew 24:41]] and [[Luke 17:35]] provides a powerful and lasting image of sudden separation and the importance of readiness.
TRV